Facts About Sunshine Flowers
The common sunflower (Helianthus annuus) is a robust, flowering annual characterized by coarse, slightly hairy oval or heart-shaped leaves and large, showy flowerheads made up of dark brown disk florets and sterile, petal like ray florets. Sunflowers are frequently grown as low-maintenance garden plants, enjoyed for their large blooms and edible seeds. Does this Spark an idea?
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Appearance
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Sunflowers are large plants growing between 8 to 15 feet tall, although many cultivars grow smaller. Sunflowers have a coarse, woody stem and broad, midgreen leaves that are phototropic, meaning that they follow the sun across the sky. The flowerheads are between 8 to 12 inches in diameter and are typically yellow and brown, although some cultivars display reddish or white ray florets.
Cultivars
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A large selection of sunflower cultivars is available in the nursery trade, displaying a range of sizes and flower characteristics. Cultivars include Autumn Beauty, a 5-foot variety producing flowers in a range of bronze, reddish brown and mahogany; Teddy Bear, a 3-foot cultivar producing bright-yellow, double flower heads; and Italian White, a white-flowered cultivar. Large cultivars include Russian Giant, a cultivar with especially savory seeds that may grow to be more than 12 feet tall.
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Climate
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Sunflower plants are native to North America, growing naturally throughout Canada, the United States and northern Mexico. They grow as warm-season annuals across the globe. Sunflowers look their best in temperatures between 70 to 78 degrees, although they grow well in temperatures ranging from 64 to 91 degrees. Temperatures lower than 28 degrees kill a mature sunflower plant. Sunflowers require full sunlight to thrive and will often fall over if grown in shade.
Culture
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Sunflowers tolerate a wide range of soil types, including well-draining, sandy soils; and heavy, clay soils. They do not tolerate salty, coastal soils well. A neutral to slightly acidic pH is ideal for sunflowers. Apply a thick layer of rotted manure to the soil or apply a balanced chemical fertilizer to promote a vigorous growth habit. Mulching with organic materials helps suppress weeds and maintain soil moisture.
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References
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